SeaKeepers to Honour Ocean Champions at 2025 Founders Event

The International SeaKeepers Society will host its distinguished Founders Event on 30th October 2025, during the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, bringing together marine science leaders, conservation advocates, and members of the yachting community for an evening of recognition and inspiration.

A Night of Tribute and Hope

This year’s event will honour two extraordinary individuals:

• Jimmy Buffett, posthumously named 2025 SeaKeeper of the Year, celebrated for blending music, adventure, and environmental advocacy into a lifelong legacy of ocean stewardship.
• Emily Cunningham, MBE, recognised with the 2025 NextGen Award for her groundbreaking leadership in marine conservation – from spearheading WWF’s Global River Dolphins Initiative to founding the #Motion4theOcean movement, which has inspired local governments to rally for ocean recovery.

Jimmy Buffett

Emily Cunningham

The evening will also spotlight the 2025 DISCOVERY Fleet, a global network of vessels that have enabled SeaKeepers’ oceanographic research, citizen science, educational outreach, and community engagement efforts throughout the year.

Venue & Details

• Date: Thursday, October 30, 2025
• Cocktails Begin: 7:00 PM, followed by dinner at 8:30 PM
• Location: Pier Sixty-Six, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Attendees are encouraged to RSVP by October 24. The event includes a formal dinner and unites like-minded organizations wishing to support SeaKeepers’ mission and amplify their commitment to ocean conservation.

Why It Matters

This event unites culture and conservation, remembering Jimmy Buffett’s enduring connection to coastal life while celebrating current innovation in marine science through Emily Cunningham’s leadership.

The DISCOVERY Fleet underscores how the yachting community uniquely bridges private capability with public good – supporting scientific research and education around the world.

As a proud partner of The International SeaKeepers Society, CharterWorld supports the mission to make yachting more sustainable and to safeguard our oceans for future generations. Through advocacy, education, and collaboration with conservation leaders, CharterWorld is committed to ensuring that luxury yachting can coexist with environmental responsibility, helping to transform the industry into a force for positive change.